A woman has launched a fundraiser as she seeks to undergo euthanasia in Switzerland.
Carolina Arruda, a 27-year-old from Brazil, is pursuing euthanasia in Switzerland as her home country outlaws the procedure, per the Daily Mail.
Diagnosed with bilateral trigeminal neuralgia at 16, Arruda endures excruciating pain she likens to a 220-volt shock on both sides of her face.
Hailing from Bambuí, southeastern Brazil, Arruda's condition, affecting just four out of every 100,000 people globally, severely impacts the trigeminal nerve, responsible for transmitting facial signals to the brain. Simple actions like chewing, brushing teeth, drinking, and sneezing trigger extreme pain.
"Imagine a pain that makes it impossible to speak, smile, eat. It's the simplest things that this pain limits and incapacitates me in a way that I can't describe," Arruda shared with CNN Brasil.
"There are times when all I can do is lie down and curl up in a corner and wait for this pain to go away, but it never really goes away. I live with this pain 24 hours a day."
Despite celebrating her third wedding anniversary and being a mother to a 10-year-old daughter, Arruda's life has been marred by pain, leading to two suicide attempts.
She has tried multiple treatments, including four surgeries, alternative therapies, diet improvements, exercise, and cannabidiol, which provided only slight relief.
"I tried several pharmacological treatments, from conventional medications to more experimental options," she said. "I invested time, money, and an immense amount of energy in the search for anything that could alleviate my pain."
Exhausting all options, Arruda is now turning to Switzerland, one of nine countries permitting euthanasia, with the support of a charity.
She launched a fundraiser on the Brazilian crowdfunding site Vakinha to cover the medical and travel costs, exceeding $27,000.
"The decision to have euthanasia was the hardest decision and, at the same time, the clearest for me," Arruda said. "Even with the support of my family, and all the possibilities for a happy life, the constant pain turned my life into a real torment.
"Every day, I tried to find meaning, to find hope, but the pain was always there, without stopping," she added. "It's not a lack of love for life or for the people around me, it's simply a cry for compassion, for a dignified end, you know?"
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
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